Adjustable canopy for a refuse vehicle

ABSTRACT

A refuse vehicle includes a chassis, a body configured to store refuse, a cab coupled to the chassis, and a canopy assembly extending directly above the cab. The canopy assembly includes a main body fixedly coupled to the chassis and an adjustable panel movably coupled to the main body and selectively repositionable relative to the main body.

BACKGROUND

A refuse vehicle is traditionally used to transport material fromvarious waste receptacles within a municipality to a storage orprocessing facility (e.g., a landfill, an incineration facility, arecycling facility, etc.). Refuse vehicles include cabs that contain atleast one operator that controls the refuse vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One embodiment relates to a refuse vehicle including a chassis, a bodyconfigured to store refuse, a cab coupled to the chassis, and a canopyassembly extending directly above the cab. The canopy assembly includesa main body fixedly coupled to the chassis and an adjustable panelmovably coupled to the main body and selectively repositionable relativeto the main body.

Another embodiment relates to a canopy assembly for a refuse vehicle.The canopy assembly includes a cover configured to be fixedly coupled toa chassis of the refuse vehicle, a hood pivotally coupled to the coverand selectively rotatable relative to the cover about a lateral axis,and a lip slidably coupled to the hood and selectively repositionablerelative to the hood between a plurality of longitudinal positions. Thecover, the hood, and the lip define a top surface of the canopyassembly.

Another embodiment relates to a method of installing a canopy onto arefuse vehicle. The method includes providing a refuse vehicle includinga chassis, a cab coupled to the chassis, and a body configured to storerefuse, fixedly coupling a cover to the chassis such that the coverextends over the cab, movably coupling an adjustable panel to the coversuch that the adjustable panel extends over the cab, and adjusting atleast one of (a) a position of the adjustable panel relative to thecover or (b) an orientation of the adjustable panel relative to thecover.

This summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any waylimiting. Other aspects, inventive features, and advantages of thedevices and/or processes described herein, as defined solely by theclaims, will become apparent in the detailed description set forthherein, taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures, wherein likereference numerals refer to like elements.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure will become more fully understood from the followingdetailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanyingfigures, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements, inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a front, left perspective view of a refuse vehicle, accordingto an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a side view of the refuse vehicle of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a refuse vehicle, according to an exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a refuse vehicle, according to an exemplaryembodiment.

FIG. 5 is a top, right perspective view of a canopy for a refusevehicle, according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a bottom, right perspective view of the canopy of FIG. 5.

FIGS. 7 and 8 are left side views of the canopy of FIG. 5 in variousconfigurations.

FIG. 9 is a side view of a bracket of bracket of the canopy of FIG. 5.

FIGS. 10 and 11 are bottom views of the canopy of FIG. 5 in variousconfigurations.

FIG. 12 is a top view of a group of index holes of the canopy of FIG. 5.

FIG. 13 is a top view of a guide slot of the canopy of FIG. 5.

FIG. 14 is a front, right perspective view of a refuse vehicle,according to an exemplary embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a front, right perspective view of a refuse vehicle,according to an exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Before turning to the figures, which illustrate certain exemplaryembodiments in detail, it should be understood that the presentdisclosure is not limited to the details or methodology set forth in thedescription or illustrated in the figures. It should also be understoodthat the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description onlyand should not be regarded as limiting.

Refuse vehicles may include a wide variety of cab configurations andcanopies designed for each cab configuration. Certain refuse vehicles,such as front loading refuse vehicles where refuse is lifted directlyabove the cab, utilize canopies that extend above the cab to protect thecab from contact with contaminants (e.g., refuse, liquid from a refusecontainer, etc.), which may otherwise damage the cab. The size of thecanopy is maximized to cover a large portion (e.g., most, all, etc.) ofa top surface of the cab. However, it is undesirable to have the canopysized and/or positioned to contact the cab, as this contact may alsodamage the cab (e.g., blemish the paint of the cab). Because differentrefuse vehicles utilize different cab configurations, different canopieswith optimized geometries are produced for each vehicle configuration,which increases the cost of designing and producing each vehicle. If onecanopy configuration is used for multiple vehicle configurations, thecanopy may not provide adequate cover for the cab, or the canopy maycontact the cab.

Referring generally to the Figures, a refuse vehicle includes areconfigurable canopy assembly. The canopy assembly is coupled to achassis of a refuse vehicle (e.g., indirectly through a body) andextends over a cab of the refuse vehicle, protecting the cab fromcontaminants. The canopy assembly includes a cover, which is fixedlycoupled to the chassis. A hood is pivotally coupled to the cover suchthat the hood is selectively rotatable about a lateral axis extendingthrough the center of a hinge. A lip is slidably coupled to the hood andselectively repositionable relative to the hood in a longitudinaldirection. By adjusting the positions of the hood and the lip, thecanopy assembly can be configured to maximize the area of the cab thatis covered while also avoiding contact between the canopy and the cab.This permits a using a single canopy assembly with to provide optimalprotection for a variety of different cab configurations without thecosts associated with producing different canopy assemblies for each cabconfiguration.

In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a front end loader,shown as refuse vehicle 100 (e.g., a garbage truck, a waste collectiontruck, a sanitation truck, etc.), is configured as a front-loadingrefuse truck. In other embodiments, the refuse vehicle 100 is configuredas a side-loading refuse truck or a rear-loading refuse truck. In stillother embodiments, the refuse vehicle 10 is configured as another typeof vehicle (e.g., a skid-loader, a telehandler, a plow truck, a boomlift, a construction vehicle, etc.). As shown in FIG. 1, the refusevehicle 100 includes a frame, shown as chassis 110, coupled to a seriesof tractive elements (e.g., wheel and tire assemblies, tracks, etc.),shown as wheel and tire assemblies 112. The wheel and tire assemblies112 support the refuse vehicle 100 on a support surface (e.g., theground). A primary driver (e.g., an electric motor, an internalcombustion engine, etc.), shown as primary driver 114, is coupled to thechassis 110. The primary driver 114 is configured to provide rotationalmechanical energy to power one or more systems of the refuse vehicle 100(e.g., a pneumatic system, a hydraulic system, etc.) and/or to drive oneor more of the wheel and tire assemblies 112 to propel the refusevehicle 100. The refuse vehicle 100 may include various forms of storedenergy, such as batteries, capacitors, or fuel tanks (e.g., storinggasoline, diesel, bio-diesel, ethanol, natural gas, etc.), that powerthe primary driver 114.

As shown in FIG. 1, the refuse vehicle 100 further includes a frontcabin, shown as cab 116, coupled to the chassis 110 (e.g., positioned ata front end thereof). As shown, the cab 116 is positioned above theprimary driver 114. The cab 116 is configured to contain one or moreoperators during operation of the refuse vehicle 100. The cab 116 mayinclude various components to facilitate operation of the refuse vehicle100 by an operator (e.g., a seat, a steering wheel, hydraulic controls,a user interface, switches, buttons, dials, etc.).

According to an exemplary embodiment, the refuse vehicle 10 isconfigured to transport refuse from various waste receptacles within amunicipality to a storage and/or processing facility (e.g., a landfill,an incineration facility, a recycling facility, etc.). As shown in FIG.1, the chassis 110 is coupled to a storage compartment or body assembly,shown as body 120. The body 120 includes a plurality of panels, shown aspanels 122, a tailgate 124, and a cover 126. The panels 122, thetailgate 124, and the cover 126 define a collection chamber (e.g.,hopper, etc.), shown as refuse compartment 128. Loose refuse may beplaced into the refuse compartment 128 where it may thereafter becompacted. The refuse compartment 128 may provide temporary storage forrefuse during transport to a waste disposal site and/or a recyclingfacility. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the body 120 andthe refuse compartment 128 extend in front of the cab 116. According tothe embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the body 120 and the refuse compartment128 are positioned behind the cab 116. In some embodiments, the refusecompartment 128 includes a hopper volume and a storage volume. Refusemay be initially loaded into the hopper volume and thereafter compactedinto the storage volume. According to an exemplary embodiment, thehopper volume is positioned between the storage volume and the cab 116(i.e., refuse is loaded into a position of the refuse compartment 128behind the cab 116 and stored in a position further toward the rear ofthe refuse compartment 128). In other embodiments, the storage volume ispositioned between the hopper volume and the cab 116 (e.g., arear-loading refuse vehicle, etc.).

The refuse vehicle 100 further includes an actuator assembly, shown liftassembly 140, coupled to the chassis 110. The lift assembly 140 includesa pair of supports, shown as lift arms 142, pivotally coupled to thechassis 110. A pair of engagement devices, shown as lift forks, arepivotally coupled to a distal end of the lift arms 142. Movement of thelift arms 142 and the lift forks 144 are controlled by a series ofactuators (e.g., electric actuators, hydraulic actuators, pneumaticactuators, linear actuators, etc.), shown as hydraulic cylinders 146. Inoperator, the lift forks 144 are engaged with a refuse container RC(e.g., a dumpster, a can, etc.). The hydraulic cylinders 146 arecontrolled to lift the refuse container RC over the cab 116, invertingthe refuse container RC over the body 120 to empty the contents of therefuse container RC into the refuse compartment 128. The hydrauliccylinders 146 are subsequently controlled to lower the refuse containerRC and disengage the lift forks 144 from the refuse container RC.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate alternative embodiments of the refuse vehicle100, each with a different configuration (e.g., size, shape, location,etc.) of the cab 116. A top surface of the cab 130 of FIG. 3 ispositioned relatively lower than a top surface of the cab 130 of FIG. 2.A front surface of the cab 130 of FIG. 2 is positioned relativelyfarther forward than a front surface of the cab 130 of FIG. 3. A topsurface of the cab 130 of FIG. 4 is positioned relatively lower than thetop surface of the cab 130 of FIG. 3. A front surface of the cab 130 ofFIG. 4 has approximately the same longitudinal position as the frontsurface of the cab 130 of FIG. 3. In other embodiments, the cab 130 isotherwise configured.

Referring collectively to the exemplary embodiments shown in FIGS. 1-4,the refuse vehicle 100 also includes a cover or canopy, shown as canopyassembly 200, coupled to the body 120. The canopy assembly 200 extendsforward from the body 120, above the cab 130, such that the canopyassembly 200 covers the cab 130 to prevent contaminants (e.g., liquid ordebris from the refuse container RC that is lifted by the lift assembly140, hail, rain, debris from other vehicles, etc.) from coming intodirect contact with the cab 130. Because the canopy assembly 200prevents the contaminants from falling directly onto the cab 130, thecanopy assembly 200 reduces the possibility for damage to the cab 130.

The canopy assembly 200 includes a main body or fixed panel, shown ascover 210, a rotatable portion or adjustable panel, shown as hood 240,and an extendable portion or adjustable panel, shown as lip 260. Thecover 210 is directly (e.g., fixedly, removably, etc.) coupled to afront wall of the body 120. The hood 240 is pivotally coupled to thecover 210, and the lip 260 is slidably or translatably coupled to thehood 240. Accordingly, the hood 240 and the lip 260 are selectivelyrepositionable relative to the cover 210. Referring specifically toFIGS. 2-4, the canopy assembly 200 is shown in a plurality of differentconfigurations, each suited to a different cab arrangement. Duringassembly of the refuse vehicle 100, the canopy assembly 200 may bereconfigured based on the relative size, shape, and/or location of thecab 130. By way of example, the hood 240 may be rotated downward orupward to accommodate a cab 130 that is relatively short or tall,respectively. By way of another example, the hood 240 may be rotateddownward or upward to accommodate a cab 130 that is positionedrelatively low or high, respectively. By way of another example, the lip260 may be extended or retracted to accommodate a cab 130 that isrelatively long or short, respectively, in a longitudinal direction(i.e., a direction extending between the front and the rear of therefuse vehicle 100). By way of another example, the lip 260 may beextended or retracted to accommodate a cab 130 that is positionedrelatively toward the front or the rear of the refuse vehicle 100,respectively. Due to the adjustability of the hood 240 and the lip 260,one embodiment of the canopy assembly 200 may be utilized with a varietyof different cab configurations, optimizing the performance of thecanopy assembly 200 while reducing the manufacturing costs that would beassociated with producing different models for different refusevehicles. The canopy assembly 200 can also be adjusted such that thedistal end of the canopy assembly 200 (e.g., the end of the lip 260) isspaced from the cab 130, preventing contact between the canopy assembly200 and the cab 130 and the associated wear.

Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, the canopy assembly 200 is shownaccording to an exemplary embodiment. As shown, the cover 210 includes atop portion (e.g., a top wall, a main body, etc.), shown as top plate211, that defines a top surface of the cover 210 and a pair of sideportions (e.g., side walls, flanges, etc.), shown as side plates 212,that define a left surface and a right surface of the cover 210,respectively. The side plates 212 are fixedly coupled to and extendsubstantially perpendicular to the top plate 211. The top plate 211 isgenerally rectangular. The side plates 212 are generally trapezoidal. Arear end portion of the cover 210 is fixedly coupled (e.g., fastened,welded, etc.) to the body 120 of the refuse vehicle 100. A front endportion of each side plate 212 is fixedly coupled to (e.g., welded to,fastened to, formed as a single continuous piece with, etc.) a body,shown a bracket 220.

As shown, the hood 240 includes a top portion (e.g., a top wall, a toppanel, a main body, etc.), shown as top plate 251, that defines a topsurface of the hood 240 and a pair of side portions (e.g., side walls,flanges, etc.), shown as side plates 252, that define a left surface anda right surface of the hood 240, respectively. The side plates 252 arefixedly coupled to and extend substantially perpendicular to the topplate 251. The top plate 251 is generally rectangular. The side plates252 are generally tapered such that a height of each side plate 252decreases from the rear to the front of the hood 240. The side plates252 each extend along an outer surface of one of the side plates 212.

As shown in FIGS. 5-8, a rear end portion of the hood 240 is pivotallycoupled to a front end portion of the cover 210. Specifically, the hood240 is pivotally coupled to the cover by a pair of pivotal couplers,shown as hinges 216. The hood 240 is configured to rotate relative tothe cover 210 about a lateral of rotation, shown as axis 217, thatextends through the centers of the hinges 216. FIGS. 7 and 8 illustratea rotational range of motion of the hood 240 between a lowermost orbottom position, shown in FIG. 7, and an uppermost or top position,shown in FIG. 8, according to an exemplary embodiment. In otherembodiments, the canopy assembly 200 is configured with different topand/or bottom positions (e.g., has a smaller range of motion, has alarger range of motion, has a range of motion containing differentpositions, etc.). In some embodiments, the hood 240 is angled below ahorizontal plane throughout the range of motion.

As shown, the lip 260 includes a top portion (e.g., a top wall, a mainbody, etc.), shown as top plate 261, that defines a top surface of thelip 260 and a pair of side portions (e.g., side walls, flanges, etc.),shown as side plates 262, that define a left surface and a right surfaceof the lip 260, respectively. The side plates 262 are fixedly coupled toand extend substantially perpendicular to the top plate 261. The topplate 261 is generally rectangular. The side plates 262 have a generallyconstant height. The side plates 252 each extend along an outer surfaceof one of the side plates 262. The lip 260 is slidably coupled to thehood 240 such that the lip 260 is selectively repositionable in alongitudinal direction along the length of the hood 240. The lip 260 maybe repositioned to vary an overall length of the canopy assembly 200.FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate a translational range of motion of the lip 260between a fully extended position, shown in FIG. 7, and a fullyretracted position, shown in FIG. 8, according to an exemplaryembodiment. In other embodiments, the canopy assembly 200 is configuredwith different fully extended and/or fully retracted positions (e.g.,has a smaller range of motion, has a larger range of motion, has a rangeof motion containing different positions, etc.).

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 9, the bracket 220 defines a series of indexapertures, shown as index holes 222, and an elongated aperture or curvedslot, shown as guide slot 224. The index holes 222 and the guide slot224 extend laterally through the entire thickness of the bracket 220.The guide slot 224 extends along a path that is centered about the axis217. Specifically, the center of the guide slot 224 is positioned at aradius R₁ from the axis 217. The guide slot 224 extends from an angularposition P₁ to an angular position P₄. As shown, the bracket 220 definesfour index holes 222. In other embodiments, the bracket 220 defines moreor fewer index holes 222. The index holes 222 are each positionedequiradially (i.e., at the same radius R₂) from the axis 217. As shown,the radius R₁ is less than the radius R₂. In other embodiments, theradius R₁ is greater than or equal to the radius R₂. As shown, eachindex hole 222 is located at a different angular position, shown asangular position P₁, angular position P₂, angular position P₃, andangular position P₄, respectively. As shown, each angular position isoffset from an adjacent angular position by an equal angle (i.e., theangle between P₁ and P₂, the angle between P₂ and P₃, and the anglebetween P₃ and P₄ are all substantially equal). In other embodiments,the angles between the angular positions differ.

Referring to FIGS. 6-9, the canopy assembly 200 further includes twopairs of stops (e.g., pins, fasteners, protrusions, etc.), shown as pins223 and pins 225, that control rotation of the hood 240 relative to thecover 210. The pins 223 and the pins 225 are each coupled (e.g.,removably, fixedly, etc.) to one of the side plates 252 (e.g., byinserting the pin 223 through an aperture defined by the side plate 252,by welding the pin 223 to the side plate, etc.). The pin 223 ispositioned to extend through one of the index holes 222, and the pin 225is positioned to extend through the guide slot 224. Specifically, thepin 223 is centered at the radius R₂, and the pin 225 is centered at theradius R₁. Because the radii R₁ and R₂ are centered about the axis ofrotation 217 of the hood 240, the pins 223 align with different indexholes 222 and the pins 225 move along the length of the guide slot 224as the hood 240 is rotated. The pin 223 is selectively repositionablebetween different index holes 222 to control the orientation of the hood240 (e.g., reposition the hood 240 between a finite number of discreteangular positions). In the embodiment shown in FIG. 9, the pin 223extends through the index hole 222 at the angular position P₁. While thepins 223 are coupled to the side plates 252 and inserted through thisindex hole, the hood 240 is fixed in an angular position associated withthis index hole 222. The pin 223 may be selectively removed from thisindex hole 222 to permit free rotation of the hood 240 relative to thecover 210. The pins 223 may then be replaced into another of the indexholes 222 to fix the hood 240 in a different angular position. By way ofexample, the pins 223 may be moved from the index holes at the angularposition P₁ into the index holes 222 at the angular position P₂ torotate the hood 240 upward by the angular distance between the angularposition P₁ and the angular position P₂.

The pins 225 engage the guide slots 224 to guide the rotation of thehood 240 (e.g., when the pins 223 have been removed from the index holes222). As the hood 240 rotates, the pins 223 move along the length of theguide slots 224. Engagement of the pins 225 with the ends of the guideslots 224 limits rotation of the hood 240 (e.g., defines the uppermostand lowermost angular positions of the hood 240). Engagement of the pins225 with the walls of the guide slots 224 may support the hood 240 tofacilitate smooth rotation of the hood 240. In some embodiments, thepins 225 are fasteners (e.g., bolts, nuts, etc.) that are tightened whenthe hood 240 is in the desired position, pressing the brackets 220against the side plates 252 such that friction resists movement of thehood 240.

As shown in FIG. 6, the bracket 220 is shown as having four index holes222 and one guide slot 224. In other embodiments, the bracket 220 mayinclude more or fewer index holes 222. The bracket 220 may include moreor fewer guide slots 224. In other embodiments, the index holes 222 maybe spaced at different distances from the axis 217. In such anembodiment, each side plate 252 may be coupled to multiple pins 223. Inother embodiments, one or more of the index holes 222 and/or the guideslots 224 are defined by the side plates 252 and the pins 223 and/or 225are coupled to the brackets 220. In yet other embodiments, the hood 240may be coupled to the cover 210 by a different type of mount such thatthe hood 240 is repositionable relative to the cover 210.

In FIG. 7, the hood 240 is shown in a first angular position ororientation (e.g., corresponding to the angular position P₁). In FIG. 8,the hood 240 is shown in a second angular position or orientation (e.g.,corresponding to the angular position P₄). The hood 240 is selectivelyrotatable relative to the cover 210 about the axis 217 between variousangular positions. The lip 260 rotates in unison with the hood 240relative to the cover 210.

Referring to FIGS. 7, 8, 10, and 11, the lip 260 selectivelylongitudinally repositionable relative to the hood 240 between a fullyextended position and a fully retracted position to vary an overalllength of the canopy assembly 200. Specifically, the lip 260 isselectively translatable perpendicular to the axis 217, telescoping intoor out of (e.g., extending or retracting) the hood 240. The top plate261 slides along (e.g., parallel to) an inner surface of the top plate251. FIGS. 7, 8, and 10 illustrate various partially extended positionsof the lip 260. FIG. 11 illustrates a fully extended position of the lip260. By extending or retracting the lip 260, the canopy assembly 200 maybe reconfigured to cover larger or smaller cab configurations.

Referring to FIGS. 10-13, the lip 260 defines a series of indexapertures, shown as index holes 263, and a series of elongated aperturesor linear slots, shown as guide slots 273. The index holes 263 and theguide slots 273 extend vertically through the entire thickness of thetop plate 261. Specifically, the lip 260 defines two groups of indexholes 263. Each group includes multiple index holes 263 that arelongitudinally offset from one another and laterally centered with oneanother (i.e., centered along a longitudinal axis). As shown in FIG. 12,within each group each index hole 263 is longitudinally offset from anadjacent index hole 263 by a distance D₁. The two most distant indexholes 263 are offset from one another by a distance D₂. The lip 260defines four guide slots 273, each of which extend longitudinally,substantially parallel to one another. The guide slots 273 each have alength D₂.

The canopy assembly 200 further includes two sets of stops (e.g., pins,fasteners, protrusions, etc.), shown as pins 264 and pins 274, thatcontrol translation of the lip 260 relative to the hood 240 (e.g.,reposition the lip 260 between a finite number of discrete longitudinalpositions). The pins 264 and the pins 274 are each positioned atdifferent lateral positions along the top plate 251. The pins 264 andthe pins 274 are each coupled (e.g., removably, fixedly, etc.) to topplate 251 (e.g., by inserting the pin 264 through an aperture defined bythe top plate 251, by welding the 264 to the top plate 251, etc.). Thepins 264 are each positioned to extend through one of the index holes263, and the pins 274 are each positioned to extend through one of theguide slots 273. Each pin 264 is associated with one of the groups ofindex holes 263. The pins 264 are selectively repositionable betweendifferent index holes 263 of the corresponding group to control thelongitudinal position of the lip 260 relative to the hood 240. When oneof the pins 264 is inserted through one of the index holes 263, the lip260 is fixed in a longitudinal position corresponding to that index hole263. The other pin 264 may be inserted through the same index hole 263of the other group to further secure the lip 260. The pin 264 may beselectively removed from the index holes 263 to permit free translationof the lip 260 relative to the hood 240. The pins 264 may then bereplaced into another of the index holes 263 to fix the lip 260 in adifferent longitudinal position.

The pins 274 engage the guide slots 263 to guide the translation of thelip 260 (e.g., when the pins 264 have been removed from the index holes263). As the lip 260 translates, the pins 274 move along the length ofthe guide slots 273. Engagement of the pins 274 with the ends of theguide slots 273 limits translation of the lip 260 (e.g., defines thefully extended and fully retracted positions of the lip 260). Engagementof the pins 274 with the walls of the guide slots 273 may limit lateralmovement of the lip 260 and facilitate smooth movement of the lip 260.In some embodiments, the pins 274 are fasteners (e.g., bolts, nuts,etc.) that are tightened when the lip 260 is in the desired position,pressing the top panel 261 against the top plate 251 such that frictionresists movement of the lip 260. The pins 274 may limit verticalmovement of the lip 260 relative to the hood 240.

In other embodiments, the lip 260 may include more or fewer index holes263 and/or groups of index holes 263. Additionally, the lip 260 mayinclude more or fewer guide slots 273. Alternatively, the lip 260 mayinclude a mount configured to selectively and slidably couple the lip260 to the hood 240. In other embodiments, one or more of the indexholes 263 and/or the guide slots 273 are defined by the top plate 251and the pins 264 and/or the pins 274 are coupled to the top plate 261.In yet other embodiments, the lip 260 may be coupled to the hood 240 bya different type of mount such that the lip 260 is repositionablerelative to the hood 240.

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the refuse vehicle 100 is afront loading refuse vehicle. In other embodiments, the canopy assembly200 is used with other types of vehicles (e.g., concrete mixer trucks,tractors, telehandlers, other types of refuse vehicles, etc.). Referringto the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 11, a side loading refuse vehicle300 is shown that utilizes the canopy assembly 200. The side loadingrefuse vehicle 300 includes a body 320 that stores refuse and a liftassembly 340 that introduces refuse into the body 320. The lift assembly340 includes a guide or track 342 fixedly coupled to the body 320 and amanipulator or grabber, shown as arm 344, that is selectivelyrepositionable along the track 342. The arm 344 extends laterallyoutward from the body 320 to engage a refuse container RC. The arm 344lifts the refuse container RC along the track 342 and deposits therefuse into the body 320.

Referring to the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 12, a rear loading refusevehicle 400 is shown that utilizes the canopy assembly 200. The rearloading refuse vehicle 400 includes a body 420 that stores refuse and alift assembly 440 that introduces refuse into the body 320. The liftassembly 440 is positioned at a rear end of the body 320. In someembodiments, a user introduces refuse into the lift assembly 440 byhand.

As utilized herein with respect to numerical ranges, the terms“approximately,” “about,” “substantially,” and similar terms generallymean +/−10% of the disclosed values. When the terms “approximately,”“about,” “substantially,” and similar terms are applied to a structuralfeature (e.g., to describe its shape, size, orientation, direction,etc.), these terms are meant to cover minor variations in structure thatmay result from, for example, the manufacturing or assembly process andare intended to have a broad meaning in harmony with the common andaccepted usage by those of ordinary skill in the art to which thesubject matter of this disclosure pertains . Accordingly, these termsshould be interpreted as indicating that insubstantial orinconsequential modifications or alterations of the subject matterdescribed and claimed are considered to be within the scope of thedisclosure as recited in the appended claims.

It should be noted that the term “exemplary” and variations thereof, asused herein to describe various embodiments, are intended to indicatethat such embodiments are possible examples, representations, orillustrations of possible embodiments (and such terms are not intendedto connote that such embodiments are necessarily extraordinary orsuperlative examples).

The term “coupled” and variations thereof, as used herein, means thejoining of two members directly or indirectly to one another. Suchjoining may be stationary (e.g., permanent or fixed) or moveable (e.g.,removable or releasable). Such joining may be achieved with the twomembers coupled directly to each other, with the two members coupled toeach other using a separate intervening member and any additionalintermediate members coupled with one another, or with the two memberscoupled to each other using an intervening member that is integrallyformed as a single unitary body with one of the two members. If“coupled” or variations thereof are modified by an additional term(e.g., directly coupled), the generic definition of “coupled” providedabove is modified by the plain language meaning of the additional term(e.g., “directly coupled” means the joining of two members without anyseparate intervening member), resulting in a narrower definition thanthe generic definition of “coupled” provided above. Such coupling may bemechanical, electrical, or fluidic.

References herein to the positions of elements (e.g., “top,” “bottom,”“above,” “below”) are merely used to describe the orientation of variouselements in the FIGURES. It should be noted that the orientation ofvarious elements may differ according to other exemplary embodiments,and that such variations are intended to be encompassed by the presentdisclosure.

Although the figures and description may illustrate a specific order ofmethod steps, the order of such steps may differ from what is depictedand described, unless specified differently above. Also, two or moresteps may be performed concurrently or with partial concurrence, unlessspecified differently above. Such variation may depend, for example, onthe software and hardware systems chosen and on designer choice. Allsuch variations are within the scope of the disclosure. Likewise,software implementations of the described methods could be accomplishedwith standard programming techniques with rule-based logic and otherlogic to accomplish the various connection steps, processing steps,comparison steps, and decision steps.

It is important to note that the construction and arrangement of therefuse vehicles as shown in the various exemplary embodiments isillustrative only. Additionally, any element disclosed in one embodimentmay be incorporated or utilized with any other embodiment disclosedherein. For example, the canopy assembly 200 of the exemplary embodimentshown in at least FIG. 5 may be incorporated in the side loading refusevehicle 300 of the exemplary embodiment shown in at least FIG. 14.Although only one example of an element from one embodiment that can beincorporated or utilized in another embodiment has been described above,it should be appreciated that other elements of the various embodimentsmay be incorporated or utilized with any of the other embodimentsdisclosed herein.

What is claimed is:
 1. A refuse vehicle, comprising: a chassis; a bodyconfigured to store refuse; a cab coupled to the chassis; and a canopyassembly extending directly above the cab, the canopy assemblyincluding: a main body fixedly coupled to the chassis; and an adjustablepanel movably coupled to the main body and selectively repositionablerelative to the main body.
 2. The refuse vehicle of claim 1, wherein theadjustable panel is a hood that is pivotally coupled to the main body,further comprising a lip slidably coupled to the hood, wherein the hoodis selectively rotatable relative to the main body about a lateral axis,and wherein the lip is translatable longitudinally relative to the hood.3. The refuse vehicle of claim 2, wherein the hood is selectivelyrepositionable relative to the main body between a finite number ofdiscrete angular positions.
 4. The refuse vehicle of claim 3, whereinthe lip is selectively repositionable relative to the hood between afinite number of discrete longitudinal positions.
 5. The refuse vehicleof claim 2, wherein one of the main body or the hood defines a pluralityof index apertures that are angularly offset from one another about thelateral axis, each index aperture corresponding to an angular positionof the hood relative to the main body, further comprising a first pinselectively repositionable between the index apertures to selectivelyfix the hood in a different one of the angular positions.
 6. The refusevehicle of claim 5, wherein the one of the main body or the hood definesa slot, further comprising a second pin coupled to the other of the mainbody and the hood and extending into the slot, wherein the second pinmoves along a length of the slot as the hood rotates relative to themain body.
 7. The refuse vehicle of claim 2, wherein one of the hood orthe lip defines a plurality of index apertures offset fromlongitudinally one another, each index aperture corresponding to alongitudinal position of the lip relative to the hood, furthercomprising a first pin electively repositionable between the indexapertures to selectively fix the lip in a different one of thelongitudinal positions.
 8. The refuse vehicle of claim 7, wherein theone of the hood or the lip defines a slot, further comprising a secondpin coupled to the other of the hood and the lip and extending into theslot, wherein the second pin moves along a length of the slot as the liptranslates relative to the hood.
 9. The refuse vehicle of claim 2,wherein the main body, the hood, and the lip define a top surface of thecanopy assembly.
 10. The refuse vehicle of claim 1, wherein theadjustable panel is pivotally coupled to the main body and selectivelyrepositionable relative to the main body between a plurality of angularpositions.
 11. The refuse vehicle of claim 1, wherein the adjustablepanel is slidably coupled to the main body and selectively translatablerelative to the main body between a plurality of longitudinal positions.12. The refuse vehicle of claim 1, wherein the adjustable panel isrotatable relative to the main body about a lateral axis between afinite number of discrete angular positions; and wherein the adjustablepanel is translatable longitudinally relative to the main body between afinite number of discrete longitudinal positions.
 13. The refuse vehicleof claim 12, further comprising a lift assembly coupled to the chassis,wherein the lift assembly is configured to lift a refuse container overthe canopy assembly to introduce refuse from the refuse container intothe body, and wherein the refuse vehicle is a front loading refusevehicle.
 14. A canopy assembly for a refuse vehicle, comprising: a coverconfigured to be fixedly coupled to a chassis of the refuse vehicle; ahood pivotally coupled to the cover and selectively rotatable relativeto the cover about a lateral axis; and a lip slidably coupled to thehood and selectively repositionable relative to the hood between aplurality of longitudinal positions, wherein the cover, the hood, andthe lip define a top surface of the canopy assembly.
 15. The canopyassembly of claim 14, wherein one of the hood or the cover defines afirst index aperture and a second index aperture, further comprising apin that is selectively repositionable between the first index apertureand the second index aperture, wherein the pin is configured to fix thehood in a first angular position relative to the cover when the pin isinserted into the first index aperture, and wherein the pin isconfigured to fix the hood in a second angular position relative to thecover when the pin is inserted into the second index aperture.
 16. Thecanopy assembly of claim 14, further comprising a protrusion coupled toone of the hood or the cover, wherein the other of the hood or the coverdefines a slot that receives the protrusion, and wherein the protrusionis configured to move along a length of the slot when the hood rotatesabout the lateral axis.
 17. The canopy assembly of claim 14, wherein oneof the lip or the hood defines a first index aperture and a second indexaperture, further comprising a pin that is selectively repositionablebetween the first index aperture and the second index aperture, whereinthe pin is configured to fix the lip in a first longitudinal positionrelative to the hood when the pin is inserted into the first indexaperture, and wherein the pin is configured to fix the lip in a secondlongitudinal position relative to the hood when the pin is inserted intothe second index aperture.
 18. The canopy assembly of claim 14, furthercomprising a protrusion coupled to one of the lip or the hood, whereinthe other of the hood or the cover defines a slot that receives theprotrusion, and wherein the protrusion is configured to move along alength of the slot when the hood rotates about the lateral axis.
 19. Amethod of installing a canopy onto a refuse vehicle, comprising:providing a refuse vehicle including a chassis, a cab coupled to thechassis, and a body configured to store refuse; fixedly coupling a coverto the chassis such that the cover extends over the cab; movablycoupling an adjustable panel to the cover such that the adjustable panelextends over the cab; and adjusting at least one of (a) a position ofthe adjustable panel relative to the cover or (b) an orientation of theadjustable panel relative to the cover.
 20. The method of claim 19,wherein the adjustable panel is a hood, further comprising slidablycoupling a lip to the hood such that the lip extends over the cab,wherein adjusting at least one of (a) the position of the adjustablepanel relative to the cover or (b) the orientation of the adjustablepanel relative to the cover comprises: rotating the hood relative to thecover about a lateral axis from a first angular position to a secondangular position; and translating the lip relative to the hood from afirst longitudinal position to a second longitudinal position.